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Ideas & Strategies for Right Now!. Getting the Most from Drought Stressed Forages…. Presented by Jerry Clark, Ag Agent. Pasture strategies…. Mow tall weedy or brushy growth… Apply Nitrogen @ 40 lbs/a August 1 st … Do NOT over graze!. Animal Unit Months - Seasonal Distribution, ISU….
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Getting the Most from Drought Stressed Forages… Presented by Jerry Clark, Ag Agent
Pasture strategies… • Mow tall weedy or brushy growth… • Apply Nitrogen @ 40 lbs/a August 1st… • Do NOT over graze!
Animal Unit Months - Seasonal Distribution, Minnesota… Totals - 0 = 1.1, 100 = 3.7, 200 = 5.9
Alfalfa Response to Drought… • Photosynthesis slows as drought continues… • Stomata close to conserve water… • Root system growth increases to explore for more water… • New seedings – root growth is affected more than the foliage • Increase in leaf:stem ratio; • Fewer stems but • Longer stems
Alfalfa Response to Drought… • N fixation & nodule formation is reduced but nutrient accumulate in roots vs. foliage… • Leaf overheats & dies throwing it in to a state of dormancy… • Dormant plant use small amount of energy to maintain itself… • After rain normal plant growth resumes…
Key Alfalfa Drought Management Strategies… • Cutting Management… • Insect Management… • Fertility Management… • Irrigation..
Alfalfa cutting strategies… • If stand is flowering & significant tonnage – HARVEST… • If flowering & low tonnage – LEAVE & let new growth come through… • Mowing will NOT increase growth… • Treat if PLH is at threshold levels… • Fertilize to OPTIMAL levels… • Harvest when new growth is ready…
Fall alfalfa cutting strategies… • Harvest BEFORE September 1st or AFTER October 15th if; (needs rest) • Adequate growth is present and • At 50% flower… • Worst case scenario – 6” to 8” of regrowth & hit by a killing frost!!! • Manage harvest for more or less!!! • Dry soil in the fall increases winter survival…
Alfalfa new seeding management strategies… • No growth within 30 to 60 days of planting – REPLANT… • Less than 15 plants per square foot - REPLANT… • If soil moisture is adequate… • If completed by September 1st…
If you are reseeding alfalfa along with a grass remember this…
Alfalfa fertility strategies… • Maintain correct soil pH… • Increases winter survival 10 fold… • Maintain phosphorous levels… • Element in ATP… • Major roll in root growth… • Enhances new seeding survival…
Alfalfa fertility strategies… • Maintain potassium levels… • Required in large amounts… • K involved in stand persistency… • Increases winter hardiness… • Increases disease resistance…
Alfalfa insect strategies… • Monitor for potato leaf hopper & treat at these thresholds; • 3” - .2 adults/sweep • 6” - .5 adults/sweep • 8” to 11” - 1.0 adult/sweep • 12” to 14” - 2.0 adults/sweep • However, usually NOT a problem in the fall…
Grassy hay field strategies… • Harvest if tonnage justifies it… • Apply Nitrogen @40 lbs/a • NOT manure because N will NOT be available immediately…
Late Fall Emergency Forage Strategies (after July)… UW Research and Recommendations
Fall + Spring Forage Yield & Quality of Small Grains Seed August/Harvested October – Single Specie…
Fall + Spring Forage Yield & Quality of Small Grains Seed August/Harvested October – Two Species…
UWEX Late Fall Emergency Forage Recommendations… • Very few options after July… • Small grains; • Option #1 - oats OR winter wheat @ 3 bushels per acre… • Option #2 – oats AND winter wheat @ 1 ½ bushels per acre of each...
